The Department of Human Development and Family Studies has posted new openings for positions. Learn more about these job opportunities.

College of Human Sciences to recognize graduating seniors at fall convocation

The Iowa State University College of Human Sciences will recognize the accomplishments of the graduating class of fall 2018 in a series of events on Dec. 14 and 15. Dean and Dean’s Chair Laura Jolly and department chairs will individually recognize students receiving bachelor’s degrees at the college’s undergraduate convocation at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec.…

Apply to become a CHS Ambassador!

As an ambassador, you provide prospective students and their families with a personal, interactive experience while they visit the College of Human Sciences.

Singing may reduce stress, improve motor function for people with Parkinson’s disease

The results from a recent pilot study done by Iowa State researchers shows that singing may lead to improvements in mood and motor function for people with Parkinson’s disease. While the data is only preliminary, assistant professor of kinesiology Elizabeth Stegemöller says that the improvements made from singing are similar to improvements made when taking…

Oesterreich to receive national 2018 Excellence in Extension Award

AMES, Iowa – Lesia Oesterreich, an extension specialist in human development and family studies from Iowa State University, will receive the 2018 Excellence in Extension Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Cooperative Extension, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. The award will be presented Nov. 11…

Human Development and Family Studies chair Carl Weems named APS fellow

An Iowa State University researcher with expertise in traumatic stress, emotional development, and the intervention and prevention of emotion-related difficulties has joined an elite group of researchers in the field of psychology. Carl Weems, professor and chair of human development and family studies, has been named a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science. Fellow…

AMES, Iowa — One hundred and twenty community leaders from 30 Iowa counties — including mayors, legislative staffers, health agency leaders, and court administrators — attended the “Planning to Take Action against Opioids in Your Community” workshop, on Wednesday, September 12, from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Ames.

Link between divorce and graduate education a concern as more jobs require advanced degree

Children of divorce are less likely to earn a four-year or graduate degree, according to new research from Iowa State University. The study, published in the Journal of Family Issues, is one of the first to look specifically at divorce and graduate education. Researchers — including Iowa State University alumna Camron Devor, Cassandra Dorius in human development and…

Season of success for summer internships

It’s a summer of firsts for Iowa State University— its first female athletic training interns with the National Football League, its first merchandising interns with American Eagle, and its first intern assessing the needs of older Iowans in northwest Iowa.

Decision to live together negatively affects wealth accumulation

Cohabitation has long-term financial implications, according to research from Iowa State and Kansas State universities.

Welcome to the Department of Human Development and Family Studies

Human development and family studies (HDFS) is the science of how individuals and families develop behaviorally, cognitively, economically, emotionally, physically, and socially throughout the lifespan. You’ll learn an interdisciplinary approach to knowledge development and application to promote positive development and expand human potential as well as the importance of diversity, inclusiveness, and social justice.

If you want to help children, youth, adults, families, or the aging lead a better, more fulfilling life, a degree within HDFS will be a rewarding adventure!